By Albatross
July 6 2004

"Oh, what happened to you, whatever happened to me...." With speculation continuing about Hartlepool United's latest signings, Pools online casts it's eye over the names currently in circulation as apparent targets. With little to report in terms of firm news of targets, speculation is rife - and in particular in terms of forwards. Cooper has made no secret that he'd like to find a big presence up front, but has also made clear in responding to fans questions on the Official Site that whoever comes in will also need to be useful with their feet - he's not about to change tactics, so any big target man would need to be comfortable with our style of play.

Rumours have resurfaced about Tranmere's Eugene Dadi, but despite a claimed sighting it still looks highly unlikely - certainly there's nothing at the Wirral end of things to indicate that the forward is unhappy at the club he recently signed a two year deal with.

The more interesting story is that Michael Mols could be signing up at the Vic. Having been released by Rangers, the former Dutch international is considering his options - and if the speculation on the boards is anything to go by, Pools could be one of those.

Mols is the sort of player to have every Poolie drooling: skillful, a good goalscoring record, and even at the age of 33 still in demand. Cologne are apparently interested, and fans from his former club Utrecht would certainly love to see the player that was a folk hero to them back there. It's arguable that had he not suffered an horrific knee injury early in his Rangers career - trying to get out of the way as Oliver Kahn charged towards him and the ball in a Champions League game - Mols would have figured in Euro 2000, might have been in the Dutch squad for Euro2004 and, if you believe what some Gers fans say, be attracting the same sort of plaudits as Henrik Larsson. While there might just be a bit of Old Firm rivalry creeping in there, Mols had scored 14 goals before the horrific injury at the start of November 1999 kept him out for the best part of a year and left him unable to reach his previous heights.

Mols though has other irons in the fire too - there have been reports that he might give up playing and instead become a travel agent. While I wouldn't rule out completely seeing him in Pools colours in the coming season, it looks a long shot and I won't be looking up Scott Thornberry's fabled Cartwheel Instructions on Uncovered just yet.

Meanwhile, yet another forward that has been mentioned is Colchester's former Boro youngster Jamie Cade. Sky Sport's website is claiming that Pools and Darlo are set to battle it out for the 20 year old, who despite having only signed for the U's halfway through last season is apparently available after failing to score in 15 appearances. Cade though is hardly the player that fits Cooper's stated want of a "tall, strong and powerful striker" - he's more of a smaller pacy type. It's difficult to see him being rated as better than what we already have at the club - so it's yet another story to file under "unlikely".

There has been some good news though, with both Mickey Barron and Chris Westwood taking part in training and hoping to be joining the rest of the squad on the journey to the Netherlands next week. Will anyone else be joining them? The waiting coninues.....